One Step Closer

Be grateful for your mistakes and the trials, travesties and tribulations from your enemies. Without the pain, you would not have the strength for your purpose, you would not be who you are today, have the people in your life as you do now, nor the passion that drives you to make a difference.  Believe, with all your heart, that evil attacks hardest, God’s strongest; those meant for God's greater purpose, and how great it is. Satan does everything in his power to get you to give up, give in, and go away.  Evil relishes those moments when you focus on what frustrates or angers you; all that is wrong is he and evil wants to be the center of your attention.  You may fall, you may fail and you may get knocked down; know, every time you get back up, every time you try, and every time you keep moving, you’re one step closer to God and the greatness He has in store for you! Carlene Altom 1-13-13

Divided We Stand

I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. 

This is our current pledge that’s been modified 4 times since its original composition; the last time was in 1954 when Under God was added.

“I pledge allegiance” ~promise to be true

“to the flag” ~the symbol of our country

“of the United States of America” ~each state that has joined to make our country

“and to the Republic” ~a republic is a country where the people choose others to make laws for them

“for which it stands,” ~the flag means the country

“one nation” ~a single country

“under God,” ~the people believe in a supreme being

“indivisible,” ~the country cannot be divided

“with Liberty and Justice” ~ freedom and fairness

“for all.” ~for each person

The pledge says you are promising to be true to this goal.

To write the pledge to reflect reality would read something like this:

I pledge Allegiance to myself and to those who see it my way, one state, under man, divided, with oppression and mass murder weapons for all.

We have failed. We are divided. We are a culture of self-indulgence and era of excessive living, generations of instant gratification and a society that lacks accountability. 

Over the next 5 years, inflation will make our basic needs unattainable for most Americans. September 18, 2008 was just the beginning. We have seen a rise in dictatorship and our debt. We are so divided that for the first time in our history we have not operated under a budget for 3 consecutive years, as of January 1^st, we started our 4^th.  When I “flip” a company, the first thing I start with is the budget. I cut spending by removing the unnecessary and renegotiate or seek out lower cost for what is needed. I evaluate team members; I recommend hiring, firing or a change in ones job description. No matter how ideal a plan is, if you have the wrong people to implement it, it is guaranteed fail. Our strength is only as strong as our weakest link and over the last 50 years our own government as proven to be Americas weakest link.

We are one nation, under debt, with excessive living and entitlements for all.~ Carlene Altom 1-7-13

Dear World

Dear World,

You do not know every step I have taken to stand where I am today nor how many times I have fallen and had to force myself to get back up. You do not know my disabilities or of the struggles they create. You do not know all of my insecurities, nor the reasons that caused them. You do not know the people in my life who have died and the affects it had on me.  You do not know of trust that was broken or promises not kept.

You do not know the environment in which I was raised, the tears I have cried or the heartbreak of relationships that ended.  You do not know me; I do not trust you with all my heart.

Dear God,

You know every step I have taken to stand where I am today and how many times I have fallen and had to force myself to get back up. You know my disabilities and the struggles they create. You know all of my insecurities and the reasons that caused them. You know the people in my life who have died and the affects it had on me.  You know of the trust that was broken and each promises not kept.

You know the environment in which I was raised, the tears I have cried and the heartbreak of relationships that ended.  You know me I trust you with all my heart. Carlene Altom 11-19-12

Jeez, you again?

Do you have faith in mankind?

Through God you have faith, but only in God is your Faith blinded.

Do you trust mankind?

With God you do trust, but only in God do you trust your all.

As you rebalance, you are steadied by His hand and guided by His wisdom. Your path lit by truth shines bright; you’re at peace within. Light dances around their sin exposing their world full of arrogance, pride and darkness and with deep shame they will feel your presence. A constant path you will cross, not a test but a temptation.  Keep Gods word in your mind, His love in your heart, His vision in your eyes. Your light will shine brighter, you will draw strength and they will bare witness…. it is through this witness they will come to know Him.   

Live your life like the world is watching, live to inspire because you never know whom you have inspired to live!~ Carlene Altom 9-17-12

Have you ever been burned by someone, you never want to see them again, but you find yourself running into them at every corner? Instead of being upset by it, take the opportunity to show them what you are made of, Gods Love.